Re: Auctions

I really don't want to upset anybody with this statement, so I sincerely
hope I don't. Laura and I have just over 1000 different named, but few
labeled, (don't know about registered) hostas growing in our hosta beds
in the western North Carolina mountains ( about 30 miles north of
Asheville, NC. Asheville bills itself as "Land of the Sky", but is truly
low country compared to where we are. About the only problem growing
hostas here, though, is that about every third year the hostas are up
and inch or two when the last hard freeze reduces them to mush; truly a
sad, sad sight, since we have waited all winter to see their beauty
again. This is why I would have to vote for Minnesota as the ideal hosta
growing area. Oh my, please forgive this rambling off the subject. Back
to the subject: even with all the plants we have, it is rare to come
across a plant that is truly "different". We have found this to be the
case, not from going out and buying new plants, because we haven't done
that in quite a few years, but rather from the appearance of many new,
and somethimes older, plants sent to us for TC. We have had two for TC
year that are truly stunning; not large planst or clumps, but medium to
quite small, border type plants; one with bright red petioles, and
almost gold, lance shaped leaves. This plant makes 'Red October' look
almost ordinary. Another stunning hosta we recently TC'd is a 'Blue
Cadet' sport, appropriately named 'Blue Mouse Ears'. This plants flower
scapes and flowers are perfectly proportional to the plant. 'Blue Mouse
Ears' has been on the market, but not from us.Many people, of course,
just want a plant TC'd because they like it, and want more of them, and
for other reasons. I think I may have just insulted some (hopefully not
all) of the people who send us plants for TC. I believe the real test of
the true value of any plant is the attention it gets from ordinary
people. We don't get many hosta lovers or collectors at our place
because it is so remote, and with no signs, few people; (neighbors do,
but then we have given all of them so many plants) know we are even
here. It's just amazing to see people walk right by a very expensive
hosta, and never even notice it. Having said all that, I may as well say
that my personal favorites of them all are those with fragrance, such as
Plantaginea, and 'Summer Fragrance'. Just at dusk, their odor drifting
across the yard is so nice, though not in the same league with that of a
large (wild) honeysuckle vine growing over a big rock. Sorry about this
folks; I won't let it happen again!!